Construction site catches fire on I-95 in Portsmouth

Sunday

Nov 25, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Michelle Kingstonmkingston@fosters.com

PORTSMOUTH — A box of nails and a set of 4x4s sitting in front of a generator caught fire on Saturday morning on the I-95 bridge.

Lieutenant Peter Gordon of Portsmouth Fire Station 3 said the dispatcher received a call from a cell phone of someone driving southbound who had seen flames near a construction area on the bridge at 11:49 a.m. near exit 7. Gordon said New Hampshire State Police had also seen the equipment on fire at the same time of the call.

“It is under investigation at this time,” Gordon said. “We don't know what happened, whether the generator was overlooked or kept on to keep something from freezing, we don't know. There was a cord running near the equipment, but no idea as to what happened.”

The station 3 dispatcher called the construction company to notify them and to find out additional information, but they were unable to be reached. Gordon said due to the holiday weekend, they most likely will not have any answers until next week.

No one was injured on the scene. Portsmouth Fire Station 3 had the fire out by 12:16 p.m.

New Hampshire Department of Transportation was also unavailable for comment.